Business Prosecutions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions of (a) small and medium enterprises and (b) large businesses were brought in 2003–04 for breaches of regulations sponsored by his Department; how much in total was imposed in fines in each case; and how many visits were made in 2003–04 by officials from his Department or agencies for which his Department is responsible to verify regulatory compliance in each case.

Stephen Timms: In 2003–04 the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise undertook prosecutions only for breaches of criminal law, and not for breaches of regulations. Details of the criminal prosecution activity undertaken in 2003–04 are set out in the Annual Reports produced by each of those departments, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. Those figures do not, however, give details of the number of prosecutions involving small and medium enterprises and large businesses; the amount of fines imposed by the Courts in those cases; nor the number of visits made by officials to verify compliance in those cases.
	That additional information is not readily accessible and could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost. In the case of regulations made by the Treasury for financial services regulation, 31 prosecutions were brought in 2003–04 by the Financial Services Authority under powers conferred as a result of the transfer of functions to it by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Mutual Societies) Order 2001 (SI 2001/2617). Of these prosecutions, 16 were for failure to file returns required by s.39 Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965, as amended by the 2001 Order and 15 were for breach of s.43 Friendly Societies Act 1974, also as amended by that Order. The prosecutions were brought for offences contrary to s.61 of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 and section 98 of the Friendly Societies Act 1974. All resulted in convictions. In 4 cases, 12-month conditional discharges were ordered and in the other 27 cases fines totalling £16,675 were imposed.
	It has not been possible in the time available to ascertain the number of visits made in the context of each case in order to verify regulatory compliance, as visits which may be characterised in this way are made on a regular basis by staff of the Financial Services Authority. Nor has it been possible in the time available to obtain a breakdown of prosecutions by size of firm.

Civil Servants

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies, to each year from 1997–98 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Early retirement costs for past years, and estimates of the costs for 2004–05 and future years, where available, are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 HM Treasury(1) 1,601 1,457 1,299 2,866 1,276 1,221 3,444 2,296 (2)— — — 
			 Office of Government Commerce (3)n/a n/a n/a 1,234 1,526 3,134 1,402 547 — — — 
			 OGCbuying solutions n/a n/a n/a n/a 70 55 62 1,000 500 100 100 
			 Royal Mint 556 36 308 96 407 6,275 101 19 350 0 0 
			 Inland Revenue(4) 8,072 6,006 2,229 8,240 9,326 3,846 7,433 3,429 — — — 
			 HM Customs and Excise(5) 4,527 5,119 8,008 10,973 4,899 1,433 4,657 1,900 — — — 
			 Government Actuary's Department 18 26 24 22 19 8 8 9 9 6 — 
			 Office for National Statistics 2,693 559 170 727 5,208 (92) 34 0 — — — 
			 National Savings and Investments 2,070 2,745 970 1,332 988 839 747 0 — — — 
		
	
	(1) Including the Debt Management Office
	(2) A dash denotes that an estimate for a future year is not available
	(3) n/a denotes that the body was not formed in the year in question
	(4) Including the Valuation Office Agency
	(5) HM Customs and Excise figures reflect an accounting change in 2001–02

DLA

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Disability Living Allowance applications were made for children in each of the last three years; and how many were (a) rejected, (b) renewed, (c) successful reviews and (d) unsuccessful reviews in each year broken down by (i) county and (ii) region.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information that is available is set out in the following tables.
	
		DLA first awards broken down by successful claim for children under 16, at August each year -- Thousand
		
			 August Initial claim Reviews 
		
		
			 2002 178.6 11.1 
			 2003 193.5 11.6 
			 2004 204.9 12.1 
		
	
	
		DLA first awards broken down by successful claim and Government office region for children under 16, at August each year -- Thousand
		
			  2002 2003 2004 
			  Initial claim Reviews Initial claim Reviews Initial claim Reviews 
		
		
			 North East 10.3 0.8 11.0 0.8 10.7 0.8 
			 North west 22.9 1.9 24.9 1.8 26.2 1.9 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 15.0 1.0 16.6 0.9 17.6 0.9 
			 East Midlands 12.8 1.0 13.8 1.1 15.1 1.0 
			 West Midlands 18.2 1.0 19.6 1.3 20.7 1.2 
			 East 17.4 0.8 19.1 0.9 19.7 1.0 
			 London 20.7 0.9 22.6 1.1 24.2 1.3 
			 South East 22.4 1.1 24.7 1.3 26.6 1.4 
			 South West 13.3 0.8 13.6 0.7 14.8 0.8 
			 Wales 10.6 0.8 11.7 0.7 12.5 0.7 
			 Scotland 14.9 0.9 15.9 0.9 16.9 1.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August of each year. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures marked * are less than 500 and subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	3. '-' denotes nil or negligible.
	Source:
	InfD Centre.
	From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	County information is not available as the data is not fully populated and therefore would provide unreliable results.
	
		1: Initial claims rejected—all DLA claims (information by age or region not available) new disability living allowance claims by calendar year -- Thousand
		
			  Number of decisions on new claims Number of claims refused Claim refusal rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 2002 420,840 194,605 46 
			 2003 436,510 215,135 49 
			 2004 444,275 234,180 53 
		
	
	
		2: DLA renewed disability living allowance renewals by calendar year—all DLA claims (information by age or region not available) -- Thousand
		
			  Number of renewals registered Renewals decided Successful renewals 
		
		
			 2002 235,320 236,410 206,110 
			 2003 246,510 245,180 215,670 
			 2004 265,720 264,280 232,435 
		
	
	
		3: DLA reviews—all DLA claims (information by age or region not available) disability living allowance reviews, successful by calendar year -- Thousand
		
			  Number of reviews registered Reviews decided Successful reviews 
		
		
			 2002 266,695 267,655 122,450 
			 2003 258,930 258,030 117,375 
			 2004 (13)237,155 251,845 (13)107,165 
		
	
	(13) No Figures for December 2004 for the number of reviews registered and successful reviews. Therefore the total will be slightly lower than the actual year.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are taken from 100 per cent. Management Information System data.
	2. Figures are rounded to five.
	3. Information from the MIS system works on a 'hit' basis and therefore a case within a year for registration may not also be within the same year for decided or successful, therefore figures are not comparable.
	4. Data for unsuccessful reviews is not available, and on the basis of point 3, the number of these claims cannot be calculated from decided and successful reviews.
	Source:
	InfD

New Deal

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who have obtained jobs through the new deal were still in employment 12 months later in each year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Information is not available on the length of time individuals have spent in jobs gained through the new deal.
	The available information on the number of individuals gaining jobs through new deal, and the proportion of those not returning to claim a working age benefit within 12 months is in the following tables.
	
		New deal for young people
		
			  Number of people gaining a job Proportion of those gaining a job who have not claimed a subsequent working age benefit within 12 months (percentage) 
		
		
			 January 1998 to June 1999 102,170 — 
			 July 1999 to March 2000 80,970 46 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 92,120 47 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 73,680 47 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 71,200 47 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 75,010 — 
			 April 2004 to September 2004 40,260 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information from the DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study is available from July 1999 to March 2004. To enable information to be provided on those not returning to claim a working age benefit within 12 months, this data is provided up to March 2003.
	2. Information on the proportion not claiming a subsequent benefit excludes people who continued an existing benefit claim after starting employment.
	3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 and percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information Directorate DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
	
		New deal 25 plus
		
			  Number of people gaining a job Proportion of those gaining a job who have not claimed a subsequent working age benefit within 12 months (percentage) 
		
		
			 July 1998 to June 1999 18,640 — 
			 July 1999 to March 2000 20,770 58 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 25,630 59 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 35,210 55 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 42,060 53 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 41,230 — 
			 April 2004 to September 2004 20,940 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information from the DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study is available from July 1999 to March 2004. To enable information to be provided on those not returning to claim a working age benefit within 12 months, this data is provided up to March 2003.
	2. Information on the proportion not claiming a subsequent benefit excludes people who continued an existing benefit claim after starting employment.
	3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 and percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information Directorate DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
	
		New deal for lone parents
		
			  Number of people gaining a job Proportion of those gaining a job who have not claimed a subsequent working age benefit within 12 months (percentage) 
		
		
			 October 1998 to June 1999 16,670 — 
			 July 1999 to March 2000 32,310 72 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 47,450 73 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 49,320 75 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 59,180 75 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 59,020 — 
			 April 2004 to September 2004 32,470 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information from the DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study is available from July 1999 to March 2004. To enable information to be provided on those not returning to claim a working age benefit within 12 months, this data is provided up to March 2003.
	2. Information on the proportion not claiming a subsequent benefit excludes people who continued an existing benefit claim after starting employment.
	3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 and percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information Directorate DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
	
		New deal for disabled people
		
			  Number of people gaining a job Proportion of those gaining a job who have not claimed a subsequent working age benefit within 12 months (percentage) 
		
		
			 July 2001 to March 2002 2,390 69 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 10,000 74 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 18,000 — 
			 April 2004 to September 2004 15,680 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information from the DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study is available from July 1999 to March 2004. To enable information to be provided on those not returning to claim a working age benefit within 12 months, this data is provided up to March 2003.
	2. Information on the proportion not claiming a subsequent benefit excludes people who continued an existing benefit claim after starting employment.
	3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 and percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information Directorate DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
	
		New deal 50 plus
		
			  Number of people gaining a job with help of new deal 50 plus employment credit Number of new deal 50 plus job entries 
		
		
			 April 2000 to March 2001 33,020 — 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 33,960 — 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 31,080 — 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 — 23,700 
			 April 2004 to December 2004 — 17,220 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information is not available on the period of time elapsing before people return to claim a working age benefit.
	2. Information up to March 2003 is for those gaining a job and receiving the new deal 50 plus employment credit. information from April 2003 to December 2004 is for Jobcentre Plus recorded job entries.
	3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information Directorate
	
		New deal for partners
		
			  Number of people gaining a job 
		
		
			 May 1999 to March 2000 310 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 490 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 640 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 240 
			 April 2003 to September 2004 190 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information is not available on the period of time elapsing before people return to claim a working age benefit.
	2. Information is for people getting a job through the programme.
	3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information Directorate.

Targets

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many targets have been set in each year since 1997 by the Department; and, of these, which have been (a) met, (b) nearly met, (c) not met, (d) changed and (e) dropped.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 75W, by the Financial Secretary (Stephen Timms).

EU Contributions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) gross and (b) net contributions of each EU member state since 1986.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	Details of member states gross contributions, after taking account of the UK abatement, receipts, and indicative net contributions for the period 1986 to 2003, the latest year for which information is currently available, are set out in the following tables.
	
		Gross contributions by member state 1986–2003 € million
		
			  Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland 
		
		
			 1986 1,448 791 8,730 632 2,321 6,885 344 
			 1987 1,703 845 9,385 340 1,709 7,330 338 
			 1988 1,834 956 11,535 430 2,678 9,096 328 
			 1989 1,807 871 11,110 566 3,575 8,623 371 
			 1990 1,764 775 10,358 564 3,671 8,090 368 
			 1991 2,217 1,034 15,394 762 4,580 10,602 452 
			 1992 2,239 1,035 16,998 729 4,828 10,493 462 
			 1993 2,395 1,207 19,076 1,011 5,193 11,546 567 
			 1994 2,822 1,296 21,366 992 4,718 12,551 639 
			 1995 2,680 1,295 21,324 985 3,645 11,877 665 
			 1996 2,751 1,369 20,743 1,106 4,547 12,423 682 
			 1997 2,972 1,506 21,217 1,178 5,368 13,186 687 
			 1998 3,131 1,695 20,633 1,310 5,752 13,584 985 
			 1999 3,196 1,656 21,069 1,349 6,231 13,994 1,060 
			 2000 3,389 1,685 21,775 1,334 6,445 14,511 1,074 
			 2001 3,532 1,778 19,727 1,350 6,592 14,471 1,211 
			 2002 3,018 1,688 17,582 1,338 6,551 14,152 1,019 
			 2003 3,486 1,778 19,203 1,534 7,429 15,154 1,128 
		
	
	
		
			  Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Austria Portugal Finland Sweden UK 
		
		
			 1986 4,718 66 2,232 n/a 279 n/a n/a 4,825 
			 1987 5,192 74 2,366 n/a 342 n/a n/a 5,728 
			 1988 5,427 82 2,796 n/a 400 n/a n/a 5,324 
			 1989 7,606 73 2,701 n/a 458 n/a n/a 6,568 
			 1990 6,098 75 2,615 n/a 502 n/a n/a 6,534 
			 1991 8,700 109 3,538 n/a 712 n/a n/a 4,736 
			 1992 8,280 124 3,534 n/a 838 n/a n/a 6,702 
			 1993 10,265 167 4,031 n/a 909 n/a n/a 7,627 
			 1994 7,760 165 4,246 n/a 1,216 n/a n/a 6,417 
			 1995 6,414 168 4,350 1,763 865 887 1,658 9,252 
			 1996 9,005 161 4,436 1,874 852 964 1,969 8,219 
			 1997 8,667 171 4,838 2,110 1,078 1,062 2,326 8,928 
			 1998 10,582 217 5,105 2,086 1,105 1,146 2,383 12,537 
			 1999 10,766 194 5,092 2,054 1,228 1,211 2,349 11,084 
			 2000 11,000 186 5,497 2,094 1,255 1,226 2,633 13,867 
			 2001 11,613 257 5,517 2,091 1,266 1,233 2,338 7,744 
			 2002 11,279 184 4,468 1,809 1,187 1,185 2,086 10,153 
			 2003 11,759 205 4,920 1,936 1,293 1,338 2,501 9,971 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for gross contributions are after account is taken of the UK's abatement and the bringing to account of surpluses and deficits in respect of member states contributions in earlier years. Since 1988, member states' contributions exclude 10 per cent. collection costs (25 per cent. from March 2001) in respect of sugar and agricultural levies and customs duties payments—which are deducted before contributions are made to the Community. Prior to 1988 member states made their sugar and agricultural levies and customs duties contributions available in full. The 10 per cent. collection costs were paid from the expenditure side of the Budget to member states and thus scored as receipts.
	Sources:
	1. 1986 to 1991 Court of Auditors Reports.
	2. 1992 and 1993 European Commission Report on own resources system.
	3. 1994 to 2003 European Commission Reports on the Allocation of EU Operating Expenditure.
	
		Receipts paid to member states 1986–2003 € million
		
			  Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland 
		
		
			 1986 1,164 1,212 4,988 1,905 2,416 6,324 1,574 
			 1987 985 1,144 4,542 1,877 1,985 6,744 1,438 
			 1988 839 1,286 5,428 1,922 4,012 7,315 1,488 
			 1989 683 1,045 4,580 2,565 3,544 5,677 1,712 
			 1990 990 1,198 4,807 3,034 5,383 6,285 2,261 
			 1991 2,634 1,380 6,597 3,689 6,875 8,153 2,810 
			 1992 3,463 1,330 7,436 4,317 7,536 9,174 2,582 
			 1993 3,728 1,563 7,417 5,106 8,215 10,519 2,970 
			 1994 3,962 1,533 7,901 4,866 7,890 10,086 2,407 
			 1995 4,398 1,640 8,126 4,513 10,898 10,337 2,578 
			 1996 4,167 1,617 10,214 5,187 10,662 12,286 2,998 
			 1997 4,051 1,574 10,274 5,550 11,304 12,405 3,364 
			 1998 3,933 1,514 10,408 5,958 12,450 12,052 3,227 
			 1999 4,180 1,554 9,995 5,027 12,965 13,116 2,910 
			 2000 4,358 1,655 10,375 5,590 10,928 12,454 2,625 
			 2001 4,049 1,348 10,347 5,741 13,648 11,752 2,319 
			 2002 4,493 1,472 11,685 4,694 15,217 12,224 2,600 
			 2003 4,231 1,494 10,637 4,856 15,884 13,429 2,691 
		
	
	
		
			  Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Austria Portugal Finland Sweden UK 
		
		
			 1986 4,523 7 2,450 n/a 498 n/a n/a 3,387 
			 1987 5,256 12 2,890 n/a 731 n/a n/a 3,122 
			 1988 5,551 14 3,946 n/a 915 n/a n/a 3,254 
			 1989 6,177 8 3,830 n/a 946 n/a n/a 3,214 
			 1990 5,681 15 2,984 n/a 1,103 n/a n/a 3,147 
			 1991 7,311 269 3,000 n/a 2,228 n/a n/a 4,070 
			 1992 8,048 750 2,715 n/a 2,964 n/a n/a 4,446 
			 1993 9,122 904 2,767 n/a 3,367 n/a n/a 4,667 
			 1994 5,394 773 2,483 n/a 3,061 n/a n/a 5,343 
			 1995 5,741 862 2,428 902 3,306 753 761 4,612 
			 1996 7,852 948 2,104 1,661 3,701 1,052 1,313 6,112 
			 1997 8,606 896 2,561 1,387 3,800 1,118 1,197 7,129 
			 1998 8,490 909 2,099 1,330 4,007 975 1,344 6,981 
			 1999 9,081 833 1,788 1,242 3,940 936 1,165 5,919 
			 2000 10,880 908 2,277 1,398 3,257 1,396 1,215 7,896 
			 2001 8,693 900 1,688 1,403 2,947 1,020 1,093 5,938 
			 2002 8,241 975 1,591 1,554 3,873 1,203 1,245 6,168 
			 2003 10,666 1,062 1,996 1,577 4,769 1,347 1,454 6,216 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. With effect from 1988, payments to member states no longer include collection costs in respect of sugar and agricultural levies and customs duties. Since 1988 member states have retained 10 per cent. (25 per cent. from March 2001) of their levies and duties before making these contributions available to the Community.
	2. Information for 1986 to 1991, which has been taken from ECA reports, may not include full data on the benefit to member states from spending on administration or "other institutions". Figures for 1986 to 1991 are not therefore fully comparable with those for later years.
	Sources:
	1. 1986 to 1991 Court of Auditors Reports.
	2. 1992 and 1993 European Commission Report on own resources system.
	3. 1994 to 2003 European Commission Reports on the Allocation of EU Operating Expenditure.
	
		Net contributions by member state 1986–2003 € million
		
			  Belgium Denmark Germany Greece Spain France Ireland 
		
		
			 1986 284 -421 3,742 -1,273 -95 562 -1,230 
			 1987 717 -300 4,843 -1,537 -276 586 -1,101 
			 1988 995 -331 6,107 -1,492 -1,334 1,781 -1,159 
			 1989 1,124 -174 6,531 -1,998 31 2,946 -1,341 
			 1990 774 -423 5,550 -2,470 -1,711 1,805 -1,893 
			 1991 -417 -346 8,797 -2,926 -2,295 2,450 -2,357 
			 1992 -1,224 -296 9,562 -3,588 -2,708 1,319 -2,120 
			 1993 -1,333 -357 11,660 -4,095 -3,022 1,027 -2,403 
			 1994 -1,140 -237 13,466 -3,874 -3,172 2,465 -1,768 
			 1995 -1,718 -345 13,198 -3,528 -7,253 1,540 -1,914 
			 1996 -1,416 -248 10,528 -4,081 -6,114 138 -2,316 
			 1997 -1,079 -69 10,944 -4,372 -5,936 781 -2,677 
			 1998 -802 181 10,225 -4,647 -6,697 1,532 -2,242 
			 1999 -984 103 11,074 -3,678 -6,734 878 -1,850 
			 2000 -969 30 11,399 -4,256 -4,482 2,057 -1,551 
			 2001 -518 429 9,380 -4,391 -7,057 2,720 -1,108 
			 2002 -1,475 216 5,897 -3,357 -8,666 1,929 -1,581 
			 2003 -745 283 8,566 -3,322 -8,455 1,725 -1,563 
		
	
	
		
			  Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Austria Portugal Finland Sweden UK 
		
		
			 1986 195 59 -218 n/a -219 n/a n/a 1,438 
			 1987 -65 62 -524 n/a -390 n/a n/a 2,606 
			 1988 -124 67 -1,150 n/a -515 n/a n/a 2,070 
			 1989 1,429 65 -1,129 n/a -487 n/a n/a 3,354 
			 1990 417 60 -368 n/a -601 n/a n/a 3,387 
			 1991 1,389 160 538 n/a -1,516 n/a n/a 667 
			 1992 232 626 819 n/a -2,126 n/a n/a 2,256 
			 1993 1,143 737 1,264 n/a -2,458 n/a n/a 2,959 
			 1994 2,366 608 1,763 n/a -1,845 n/a n/a 1,074 
			 1995 673 694 1,921 861 -2,441 134 898 4,639 
			 1996 1,153 788 2,332 214 -2,850 -88 657 2,106 
			 1997 61 725 2,276 724 -2,722 -56 1,129 1,799 
			 1998 2,091 693 3,006 756 -2,903 171 1,039 5,556 
			 1999 1,685 639 3,304 812 -2,713 274 1,184 5,165 
			 2000 120 722 3,220 695 -2,002 -171 1,418 5,971 
			 2001 2,920 644 3,829 688 -1,681 213 1,245 1,806 
			 2002 3,039 791 2,876 255 -2,686 -18 841 3,985 
			 2003 1,093 857 2,923 359 -3,476 -9 1,047 3,755 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Negative sign indicates net beneficiary.
	2. Information for 1986 to 1991, which has been taken from ECA reports, may not include full data on the benefit to member states from spending on administration or "other institutions". Figures for 1986 to 1991 are not therefore fully comparable with those for later years.
	3. Figures in this table should only be regarded as indicative net contributions for the member states.
	Source:
	Gross contributions minus receipts.

Indonesia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of Joel Boutroue's press briefing on 8 February 2005; what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the UN's view of the role of the provincial authorities, the district authorities and the Acehnese people on the Government of Indonesia and its policy towards Aceh; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We welcomed Mr Boutroue's comments on 8 February 2005 about the importance of involving the Acehnese in reconstructing their devastated province after the disaster on 26 December 2004. The Government of Indonesia has made clear that its main priority is to rebuild Aceh so that the lives of the people there who have suffered such tragic losses can be returned to normal as soon as possible, and that a political settlement to the long-running conflict is reached. With this objective in mind, the international community including the UN are in discussion with the people of Indonesia, particularly the people of Aceh, as to what help they can provide to assist in the recovery of the province.

West Papua

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 December 2004, Official Report, column 1626W, on West Papua, what format he expects a review of the Act of Free Choice for Papua to take; whether there is a timetable for the review; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The report of the special representative who oversaw the implementation of the UN backed 1969 Act of Free Choice resulting in West Papua becoming a province of Indonesia was accepted by a majority vote of the UN in November 1969. Any review of it is a matter between the UN and the Indonesian Government.
	The British Government, together with other members of the international community, has continued to stress to the Indonesian Government at the highest level the need to fully implement the 2001 special autonomy law for Papua. This law allows for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to look at the incorporation of Papua into Indonesia in the 1960s.

Training Budget

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total education and training budget of the Department is for 2005–06.

David Lammy: The Departmental allocation for provision of staff education and training for 2005–6 is not yet available. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman for Bassetlaw once the details of my Department's budget for staff training and education are available.

Training Budget

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the training budget for (a) lay magistrates and (b) High Court judges is in 2005.

David Lammy: Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB), an independent body chaired by Lord Justice Keene. Training for magistrates is paid for and delivered at local level in 42 administrative areas. The budget for magistrates training is not ring fenced and currently cannot be isolated from the overall grant allocation made by the Department for Constitutional Affairs to the Magistrates Courts Service. The JSB provides a core continuing professional education curriculum, the aim of which is to strengthen and deepen the skills and knowledge of existing judicial office-holders. High Court judges are invited to relevant continuation seminars. In addition, the JSB provides a programme of regular after-court seminars for the senior judiciary. There is no ring-fenced budget for High Court judges' training and the resources devoted to it can only be identified at disproportionate cost.

Growth Areas (Funding)

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding her Department has earmarked for growth areas to ensure that they have the resources required to meet the demands of a growing population.

Derek Twigg: All local authorities are required to provide annual information as part of the Pupil Level Annual Schools Census (PLASC). This provides the Department with up-to-date information on pupil numbers, including forecast increases. PLASC data is used to calculate the allocation of funding to local authorities and schools which takes into account new pupil places in growth areas.

Overseas Students

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of certain universities' plans to increase the number of overseas students; what plans she has to ensure that these plans do not affect the Government's plans for getting more pupils from mainstream state schools into those universities; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government recognises the importance of overseas students to the UK. They provide significant benefits to the economy and to individual institutions and we want that to continue. However, as self-governing bodies, universities and higher education colleges are responsible for their own admission decisions. It is up to each institution to decide on the proportion of overseas students it plans to recruit. This does not affect the overall position of home students. Throughout the UK overseas students are recruited in addition to home students and the Government remain committed to widening participation in higher education. We continue to believe that all those who have the potential to benefit from higher education should have the opportunity to do so.

Race Relations Act

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) local education authorities and (b) universities have (i) complied with their statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, (ii) published a race equality scheme and action plan and (iii) carried out race impact assessments.

Kim Howells: The Department is not responsible for ensuring or monitoring the compliance of local education authorities or higher education institutions (HEIs) with requirements arising from the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, and so does not hold such information.
	Under the Act, the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) monitors compliance and enforces specific duties. A CRE news release on the findings of its survey of the progress of Britain's public bodies towards putting the legislation into practice is available at http://www.cre.gov.uk/media/nr arch/2003/nr030703.html.
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has a responsibility to ensure that the HEIs it funds comply with the Act. HEFCE undertook a sector-wide review of race equality policies in October 2002, followed up by two further reviews (in May 2003 and May 2004) in which it revisited those policies which had not originally met CRE's standards. A HEFCE report on the outcomes of this review process is available at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/Pubs/rdreports/2004/rd09 04/.

Student Debt

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has undertaken on whether student loans are a disincentive to (a) mature students and (b) students from ethnic minority backgrounds to entering further and higher education.

Kim Howells: The Department has published the following studies that have investigated the factors, including cost and attitudes to debt, that influence whether mature people and people from minority ethnic groups decide to enter higher education:
	"Why The Difference? A Closer Look at Higher Education Minority Ethnic Students and Graduates" 2004 DfES Research Report 552.
	"For Me or Not For Me? That is the Question: A Study of Mature Students' Decision- Making and Higher Education" 2002 DfES Research Report 297
	"Potential mature student recruitment to HE" 2002 DfES Research Report 385
	These reports can be downloaded from the Department's research internet site at http://www. dfes.gov.uk/research/. They show that debt and cost are one of several factors people consider when deciding whether or not to participate in higher education.
	All minority ethnic groups and mature people are well-represented in higher education. For example, all minority ethnic groups are estimated to have a higher higher education initial participation rate (HEIPR) than whites while mature students now comprise over three-fifths of the student population.
	The Department has not commissioned research on whether student loans deter mature people and people from minority ethnic groups from entering FE. FE students are not eligible for student loans.

Student Debt

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department allocated to the Student Loans Company in 2004–05.

Kim Howells: The Student Loans Company's total resource budget provided by the DfES was £46 million for financial year 2004–05. Outturn against budget is reported each year in the Department's Annual Report which can be accessed on http://www.dfes.gov.uk/deptreport2004/, and in the company's own annual report at http://www.slc.co.uk/frames/corpinfo/fset. html.

Student Debt

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many default notices the Student Loans Company has issued in each year of its operation; and what percentage this represents of all students due to make repayments in each year.

Kim Howells: The Student Loans Company only issues Notices of Default (NODs) after a few months of arrears when initial attempts at contact have failed. Therefore not all borrowers behind with payments are issued with NODs. In addition some borrowers may be issued with more than one NOD. Therefore it is not possible to calculate the number of borrowers in receipt of NODs as a percentage of the total number of borrowers in repayment status. Data is readily available only for the past three years.
	
		
			  NODs issued 
		
		
			 2002/03 April–March 226,299 
			 2003/04 April–March 188,897 
			 2004/05 April–February 99,474

External Consultants

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much UK Trade and Investment was spent on external consultants and advisors in each of the last three years.

Patricia Hewitt: To date UK Trade and Investment's records show spend of £4.3 million in the current financial year (2004–05) on external consultancy and advice. Spend recorded under the same heads in 2003–04 amounted to £5.7 million. Comparable data are not available for 2002–03.
	The largest element of the spend reflects the costs of providing specialist sector and market advice and specialist developmental and training support to SMEs, particularly new to export and new to market companies. Spend in these categories amounted to £2.6 million in 2003–04 and £2.8 million to end January in the current financial year. The cost of marketing support services .to UK Trade and Investment—such as project management of events, promotional campaigns and marketing development—amounted to £1.4 million in 2003–04; and is £0.6 million so far this year.

Hydrogen Fuel

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the (a) environmental and (b) financial effects of the use of hydrogen fuel for (i) transport and (ii) other users.

Mike O'Brien: In 2004, the Department for Trade and Industry commissioned E4Tech and others to undertake a study of how the UK might develop a strategic framework for hydrogen energy activities in the UK. The study considers the costs and environmental benefits of a number of possible hydrogen energy chains, and concludes that by 2030 six hydrogen energy transport chains could provide cost-competitive CO 2 reductions and greater energy security. Further details of the work are available via the DTl's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/hydrogen framework full.pdf. The Government will be considering the study's recommendations carefully, and will publish these, together with a considered response, shortly.
	The financial and environmental impacts of the use of hydrogen as a road transport fuel were also addressed in a report published by the Government in July 2004. This report, which is available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/futuretransport.shtml, considered issues such as how much hydrogen might be needed to fuel all UK road transport by 2050, and what the impacts of this might be on the UK's wider energy and other policies.

Hydrogen Fuel

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to publish the report produced by E4tech for her Department on hydrogen fuel technologies.

Mike O'Brien: In 2004, the Department for Trade and Industry commissioned E4Tech and others to undertake a study of how the UK might develop a strategic framework for hydrogen energy activities in the UK. The study considers the costs and environmental benefits of a number of possible hydrogen energy chains, and concludes that by 2030 six hydrogen energy transport chains could provide cost-competitive CO 2 reductions and greater energy security. Further details of the work are available via the DTI's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/hydrogen framework full.pdf. The Government will be considering the study's recommendations carefully, and will publish these, together with a considered response, shortly.

Hydrogen Fuel

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the economic value of hydrogen fuel technologies to (a) Scotland and (b) the UK in (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 20 years' time.

Mike O'Brien: The study by E4tech, Element Energy and Eoin Lees Energy 1 looks at the 2030 timeframe, but mainly from an energy policy perspective. It concludes that by 2030; six hydrogen energy chains could provide cost-competitive CO 2 reductions and enhanced energy security. The Renewables Innovation Review 2 concluded that fuel cells could provide significant economic benefits for the UK by 2020, estimated at annual revenues of £1.8 billion per annum as a share of a global market of £50 billion per annum. The report does not provide a separate breakdown for Scotland.
	1 http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/hydrogen framework full.pdf
	2 http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/policy/renewables innovation review.shtml

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Projects

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the (a) environmental impact and (b) financial cost of small scale hydrogen fuel cell projects where the hydrogen fuel is created from (i) mains electricity, (ii) wind turbines and (iii) solar power.

Mike O'Brien: The study by E4tech, Element Energy and Eoin Lees Energy 1 reports the modelling of the cost and CO 2 performance of a number of hydrogen energy chains, using a range of data sources which closely match the Markal model used to underpin the Energy White Paper. The study suggests that by 2030 six hydrogen energy transport chains could provide cost competitive CO 2 reductions and enhanced up-stream energy security. The use of hydrogen for stationary power generation and heat did not in general meet these criteria, but hydrogen could be useful in situations where there are substantial renewable energy sources but the export of electricity is constrained (e.g. the Western Isles).
	1 http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/hydrogen framework full.pdf.

Offshore Wind

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are used to determine capital grant funding for the offshore wind programme.

Mike O'Brien: The criteria for determining eligibility for the last round of capital grants for offshore wind projects can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/support/guidance notes.pdf.

Renewables

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account was taken of the recent Renewables Innovation Review in planned expenditure on renewables up to 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Renewables Innovation Review was one of the major pieces of work used by the Government to shape its expenditure plans for renewable energy over the period 2005–08. In total the Government have allocated over £500 million to emerging renewables and low carbon technologies over the period 2002–08 in the form of R&D and spending for capital grants.

Research and Development (Expenditure)

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what expenditure has been made by her Department and its agencies on research and development relating to the UK university departments and research centres in each financial year since 2001–02.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department through the seven research councils funds research and development in UK university departments and in research council centres and institutes. Total funding in each financial year since 2001–02 was as follows.
	
		
			   £ million 
			  UK university departments Research council institutes 
		
		
			 2001–02 774 500 
			 2002–03 813 545 
			 2003–04 799 522 
		
	
	These figures do not include funding of £675 million from the science budget between 2001–02 and 2003–04 to support both science research infrastructure and knowledge transfer from universities and research council institutes.

Police Service (Protestant Applicants)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Protestant applicants who qualified to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland have been rejected since its establishment because of the 50:50 sectarian recruitment procedures.

Ian Pearson: We have been extremely encouraged by the fact that 37,957 applications have been made from across the whole community, to join PSNI as a trainee constable. As a result, large numbers have made it to the pool of suitably qualified candidates, yet failed to be appointed due to the finite number of posts available.
	I am advised that there have been 2,427 occasions where qualified non-Catholic applicants have been rejected from the trainee constable competitions run since the introduction of the temporary 50:50 recruitment provisions contained in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000.
	Of these, 408 applications have been rejected as a result of the 50:50 provisions. The remaining 2,019 applications would have been rejected, irrespective of 50:50, if appointment from the pool had been on merit only.
	The Government fully acknowledges that 50:50 recruitment amounts to discrimination, but believes that the provisions are justified as a temporary means of rectifying an acute historical imbalance in the composition of the police service. This is clearly working, with the proportion of Catholics among regular officers rising from 8 per cent. in 2001 to 17.14 per cent. today. Our target is to increase this proportion to 30 per cent. by 2010–11.

Social Inclusion Working Group

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the members are of the sub-committee on housing of the Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

John Spellar: The Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group on homelessness is being led by the Department for Social Development. The names of the Working Group's members are on the Department's internet site, at the following address: http://www. dsdni.gov.uk/housing/social-inclusion.asp.
	The list of members can be found on the second page of the link "Documents issued by the group to date".

"Homes for All" Initiative

John Hayes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his proposal to provide starter homes at £60,000 each under the "Homes for All" initiative includes public subsidy for the construction of associated infrastructure.

Keith Hill: "Homes for All", the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's five-year plan launched on 24 January 2005, announced that English Partnerships, on behalf of, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, will be launching a competition that will invite organisations to bid for the right to construct one or more new developments on sites in their ownership. By using public sector land to provide the sites, the competition can focus on improving construction efficiency, quality and design.
	The competition will provide up to 1,000 homes. The winners of the competition will be expected to abide by local planning requirements and provide the usual supporting on-site infrastructure.
	A minimum of 30 per cent. of the housing dwellings within the competition will be built to a target cost of £60,000 and the remainder will be larger and smaller dwellings that should be built at an equivalent cost-efficiency. The £60,000 target relates to the construction cost element.

Enterprise Gateways/Hubs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) location and (b) cost of each (i) Enterprise Gateway and (ii) Enterprise hubs is, broken down by county.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is tabled as follows.
	
		
			£ 
			 County Incubation network Capital investment Revenue (per annum) 
		
		
			 Berkshire Enterprise Hubs 700,000 255,000 
			  Newbury   
			  Reading   
			  Slough   
			  Enterprise Gateways 50,000 85,000 
			  Slough   
			 
			 Buckinghamshire Enterprise Hubs Aylesbury Vale 100,000 255,000 
			  High Wycombe   
			  Milton Keynes   
			  Enterprise Gateways 0 85,000 
			  Chilterns   
			 
			 East Sussex Enterprise Hubs 950,000 255,000 
			  Brighton   
			  Eastbourne   
			  Hastings   
			  Enterprise Gateways 0 85,000 
			  Newhaven   
			 
			 Hampshire Enterprise Hubs 400,000 255,000 
			  Farnborough   
			  Solent   
			  Southampton   
			  Enterprise Gateways 0 0 
			 
			 Isle of Wight Enterprise Hubs 350,000 85,000 
			  Isle of Wight   
			  Enterprise Gateways 0 0 
			 
			 Kent Enterprise Hubs 650,000 340,000 
			  Canterbury   
			  Food Science   
			  Medway   
			  Sittingbourne   
			  Enterprise Gateways 50,000 255,000 
			  Medway   
			  Folkestone   
			  Romney Marsh   
			 
			 Oxfordshire Enterprise Hubs 350,000 255,000 
			  North Oxford   
			  Southern Oxfordshire (1)   
			  Southern Oxfordshire (2)   
			  Enterprise Gateways 50,000 85,000 
			  Faringdon   
			 
			 Surrey Enterprise Hubs 600,000 85,000 
			  Surrey   
			  Enterprise Gateways 0 0 
			 
			 West Sussex Enterprise Hubs 300,000 85,000 
			  Crawley   
			  Enterprise Gateways 2,860,000 85,000 
			  Adur   
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Revenue cost for each Enterprise Hub and Gateway is £85,000 per year.
	2. Capital costs reflect total capital investment to date. This investment is determined by market need for physic incubator space and/or hotdesking and specialist facilities (e.g. laboratory space)

Social Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the expenditure was on Transitional Local Authority Social Housing Grant in each Government office region in 2003–04; and what the estimated expenditure is for (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06.

Keith Hill: The following table shows the actual expenditure by region through transitional Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) in 2003–04 and latest estimates of investment for 2004–05 and 2005–06 to registered social landlords (RSLs) operating transitional LASHG schemes in debt free local authorities receiving grant via the Housing Corporation under section 18 of the Housing Act 1996.
	
		Transitional LASHG to debt free local authorities by region £ million
		
			  Actual Forecast 
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 London 23 6 9 
			 South East 116 16 16 
			 South West 54 6 5 
			 East 27 10 5 
			 East Midlands 9 1 1 
			 West Midlands 14 2 2 
			 North West 3 1 1 
			 North East 0 0 0 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 3 0 1 
			 Total for all regions 249 42 39 
		
	
	The above does not include information on with debt local authorities who receive revenue support to compensate for the loss of investment income. This is made available through a special grant programme under section 88b of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

Social Housing (Right to Buy)

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the Department has made of the capital receipts that will be generated by Right to Buy in (a) indebted and (b) debt free authorities in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

Keith Hill: Current estimates are tabled as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			  With-debt Debt-free 
		
		
			 2004–05 2,412 272 
			 2005–06 2,339 272 
			 2006–07 2,197 267 
			 2007–08 2,030 262

A and E Admissions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency admissions there were in (a) Chorley and (b) Preston for (i) adults and (ii) children in each of the last 16 quarters.

Rosie Winterton: The information is shown in the tables. Data split by adults and children is not held centrally.
	
		Attendances at accident and emergency (A and E) departments at Lancashire teaching hospitals national health service trust
		
			Quarter Total A and E attendances at Lancashire teaching hospitals NHS trust 1 
		
		
			 2004–05 2 27,637 
			 2004–05 1 27,944 
			 2003–04 4 24,898 
			 2003–04 3 24,581 
			 2003–04 2 27,235 
			 2003–04 1 26,883 
			 2002–03 4 23,757 
			 2002–03 3 23,733 
			 2002–03 2 26,272 
			 2002–03 1 26,322 
		
	
	(25) Lancashire teaching hospitals includes both Royal Preston hospital and Chorley and South Ribble district general hospital.
	Source:
	Department of Health dataset QMAE

Orthodontists

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many orthodontists are employed at (a) Chorley hospital and (b) Preston hospital.

Melanie Johnson: As at 30 September 2003, there were no orthodontists employed by the Lancashire teaching hospitals NHS trust. Within the Cumbria and Lancashire strategic health authority area there were 11 orthodontists in post. This information is shown in the following table.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS): dental staff within the orthodontics specialty within Cumbria and Lancashire strategic health authority Numbers (headcount)
		
			 As at 30 September 2003  All staff Of which: consultant 
		
		
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Q13 11 3 
			 Of which:
			 Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre hospitals NHS trust RXL 2 (26)— 
			 East Lancashire hospitals NHS trust RXR 2 (26)— 
			 Morecambe Bay hospitals NHS trust RTX 4 1 
			 North Cumbria acute hospitals NHS trust RNL 3 2 
		
	
	(26) denotes zero
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

Waist Size

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average (a) weight and (b) waist size of (i) men and (ii) women was in each of the last 10 years.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 7 February 2005
	Figures for the average weight and waist circumference for men and women in England in each of the last 10 years are shown in the table.
	
		Mean weight and waist circumference, by survey year and sex—age 16 and over with a valid weight and waist circumference measurement
		
			 Weight 1and waist circumference(28) 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Men   
			 Weight 79.4 79.5 80.0 80.6 80.8 80.5 81.6 82.5 82.4 82.9 
			 Waist circumference 93.8 — — 94.6 94.3 — — 96.8 96.6 97.6 
			
			 Women   
			 Weight 66.9 66.9 67.3 67.8 68.3 68.2 68.8 69.3 69.4 69.7 
			 Waist circumference 82.5 — — 83.3 83.2 — — 85.8 85.9 86.7 
			
			 Bases   
			 Men 6,869 6,809 7,093 3,738 6,709 3,256 3,312 6,408 3,035 6,077 
			  6,184 — — 3,425 6,099 — — 5,531 2,580 4,968 
			
			 Women 7,982 7,877 8,239 4,332 7,887 3,787 3,774 7,622 3,583 7,278 
			  7,113 — — 3,908 7,160 — — 6,529 3,107 5,999 
		
	
	(27) Kilograms
	(28) Centimetres
	Source:
	Health Survey for England